Deer

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Britain has two native deer. The red deer is the larger and is a familiar sight in the Scottish hills. The smaller native deer, the roe deer, is more common in southern England.

But even here it is out-numbered by the fallow deer, which was introduced by the Normans for hunting and for venison. They can form large flocks, damaging woodlands by browsing young tree shoots, sometimes killing the trees, and they also have a taste for choice plants such as orchids. The muntjac deer is a more recent introduction from China. It is no bigger than a labrador dog and is rarely seen because of its secretive habits.